The renowned publisher has appointed a seasoned producer from the creators of Apex Legends to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently developing the upcoming over-the-shoulder roguelike extraction-shooter known as this innovative game.
Management Change Comes After Mixed Response
Brinkman steps into the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was reportedly let go due to the game's lackluster initial reveal last fall.
Recently, the company's top executive David Ismailer informed team members about this strategic move through an official communication, which stressed that playtesting had revealed the need for a distinct vision.
The president expressed that the team is now refining Project Ethos with a revised vision, aiming to satisfy gamer demands.
A Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions
The news follows a similar step taken by the publisher in the summer, when they hired Rod Fergusson from the Diablo team to work on the BioShock studio Cloud Chamber.
Here is the full content from Ismailer's communication:
Dear Team—
I understand you all just finished your gathering - I hope you’re as thrilled as I am with the recent updates. Previously I shared you all a message, I expressed the following: “I believe in this group. You all are some of the most driven and innovative developers we have had the opportunity to work with - and we’re looking forward for that partnership to continue.”
Given your hard work and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you continue to prove that.
The gamer responses from last autumn’s the game playtest was informative. It confirmed the appeal of a action-packed game but made clear we still had improvements to make. It uncovered the need for a more distinct brand.
It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve advanced. You accepted the input to mind and revamped the title with a refreshed vision - one that’s ready to deliver on its promise to our players.
The trust in Project ETHOS strengthens every day. To advance the remarkable advancement you’ve made, I am thrilled to welcome Ben Brinkman as the new Studio Head of 31st Union. After several months of discussions, he officially joins us on next week.
His leadership and expertise in the competitive gaming genre is extensive, having spent the past decade and a half creating and leading some of the most popular series in the industry, such as the acclaimed shooter, and lately, the battle royale hit.
Please join me in receiving him soon. We are all excited to keep observing the evolution of the game in the weeks to ahead.
The President
Experience of the New Head
Brinkman presently holds the role of senior developer and production lead at the renowned studio for Apex Legends. He previously worked at Treyarch and Activision in multiple development positions on the Call of Duty games, and, earlier in his career, had periods at other industry leaders.
Title Details and Vision
Project Ethos was announced in October 2024 in conjunction with a early access event. Initially, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an exciting evolution on the style."
"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Build your hero in live gameplay to fit your unique tactics," the description states. "Take on the opponents with new abilities, challenges, and tests that shift every round. Will you leave securely with your collected items? Or aim high, gamble everything, and hope your team can earn top ranking? The choice is up to you."
The game lacks an confirmed release date or consoles, but players can look forward to additional details as creation advances.
